Where to get old Merc parts?????

[us1]

I have a friends 4cyl. 65 HP motor here I am working on. Where can I get plug wires and a motor wiring harness????????:confused:

[Scream And Fly]

John,

Check out Grubb's Marine: Link - click here (http://www.oldmercs.com/)

Greg;)

[Mark75H]

Bob Grubb can get you set up with plug wires:http://www.oldmercs.com/

But I'm afraid you are on your own on the wiring harness. What's wrong with the old one? fire or something?

[us1]

The old one is totally rotted. All the insulation is falling off of the wires. Man that was the fastest response I have ever had. Thanks guys.:cool:

[Raceman]

Any chance Rapair has em? Several years ago somebody told me they had internal harnesses for the old inline 6's.

I'm surprised about your fire question Sam as much as you're around old Mercs. A bunch of mine have wires that are rotted just like John described. I've never understood why Mercs seem worse about it than other old motors. I've got old cars from the 50's with solid harnesses, but seems like they're all rotten on Mercs 20 years newer. I've always wondered if it's inferior wire for the load and it makes em stay hot, or if under cowl heat ruins the insulation and lets corrosion get inside. It seems strange when you see copper wire that literally falls apart with insulation that turns to powder.

[us1]

I ordered the plug wires. I am going to ask Rapair but every time I have asked before they say they do moke them but they have temporarily stop production. Thanks:cool:

[us1]

Norris, where did you get the adapters plates for your Speedmaster too 15-inch midsection. I am too lazy, I mean busy to make them?

[David_L6]

I thought everyone knew that the wires rotted off of the old Mercs way before anything else went wrong. :confused:

[Raceman]

John, I don't have adapters for Speedmaster to 15". My yellow boat has a down studs champ with a #4. When I put a Speedmaster on the red boat it was an old style one that was a direct bolt on.

Half Fast has a downstuds #4 on his 15" mid, but he bought one and made another one like it. Only way I know you can get one is make it.

[Mark75H]

My experience with the old Mercs varies. Some 70's motors of mine have rotted away insulation, some are ok, some mid 50's motors have insulation in way above average condition.


Maybe my experience is different because my collection has so few 60's & 70's motors and the insulation quality went down.

I might have the adapter that John needs.

[Raceman]

Sam, I doubt seriously you have what he's looking for. He's trying to put a late speedmaster, either a #4 or #6 on a late model shortshaft mid section which has the V6 gearcase bolt pattern, which has the front stud and rear bolt in a different location from even an inline 6.

[Dave S]

I think that the wires go bad because of ozone eating the rubber, that Merc used that was soft and bendy.:p

[us1]

I had the adapter and sold it a few years ago. I will be putting a #4 on a 20 inch mid. Sam, do you have an adapter for that? If I had one it would be easy to copy to make the other one.

[Mark75H]

The adapter I have has 2 pairs of holes front and back. I assumed that it is drilled for both. Is that possible?

[Raceman]

Of course the adapter would be the same whether 15 or 20 inch, but you're talkin a #4 or #6 to a V6 mid, right? Sam, that adapter has to have the gearcase bolt pattern that's the same as the bottom of a champ mid, in other words about 6" wide and 8 bolts, 4 down each side.

[us1]

Raceman is corrcet. Sam do you have a picture of it?

[Mark75H]

I just looked at it, sounds right to me. I'll post a pic of it tomorrow night.

Norris is right, its odd for me to have something like this part .... it would be even more strange for me to keep it :)

[us1]

That would be great, thanks Sam.

[JLR]

If you are gonna make up one of those adapters, i might be interested in one as well. Let me know if you would be interested in making up an extra one and the approximate cost.



Thanks Jeff

[us1]

Ok, let me see what Sam has.

[Ted March]

you could try

Ralph Kozan
Ralph's Marine Inc.
4132 W. lawrence Ave
Chicago,IL 60630
(773) 736-3205

[Mark75H]

Is this what you are looking for?

[us1]

That sure looks like it. How much do you want you it?:)

[Mark75H]

John, you have email :)

[us1]

Tell me if you get my email, something is going screwy with my email software.

[Mark75H]

Got your email.

[Raceman]

Since nobody asked:D let me tell y'all what I think it'll take to make that do what you're trying to do John. First, it looks like from the imprint like it was used to put an old style Speedmaster on an up studs type 8 bolt housing. What you'll have to do to use it, is make it where it'll bolt to a mid with a V6 bolt pattern upside down. Assuming there's enough meat there to make the front and rear holes line up, you'll need to chamfer the front hole and the two side holes closest to the rear so it can be bolted to the mid with countersunk bolts in these 3 positions. This will also require removing the two rear downstuds from the V6 mid and finding 2 countersunk bolts with 7/16 course (USS) thread. I'm assuming the 8 holes around the perimeter are all threaded so studs can be put in them. After all that, it's just a matter of getting a driveshaft and water tube to the right lenght. The one that HalfFast has is made from a 1" plate instead of the thinner one like in Sam's picture and there are usually waterpump housing issues when sticking a speedmaster on a production type mid. This will probably require some clearancing in the bottom of the mid with a die grinder with a burr on it. The 1" plate kind of makes a neater package because it can have the holes countersunk and use standard bolts instead of having to find tapered seat bolts like the thinner plate requires.

[us1]

Your just gettin' worried cause the Silverwing is getting to #4s.;)

[Raceman]

I sure would like to have a #4 for my red boat if you run across an extra. It's gotta be down studs, or I guess I could drill an up studs one and do it that way.

[us1]

I have a #6 layin around.

[outboards4life]

Did you get the wiring harness that you needed?
Travis:cool:

[us1]

No, not yet. I might has to make one if I cant find it.

[outboards4life]

do you need engine or boat side of it? I have an 80 horse inline 4 that blew a gearcase and piston. I'm just going to part it out. I would think the harness should be the same. If you want it. I'll take pictures and email them to you. All the wiring is in nice shape.

Edit: noticed you needed engine side. if interested let me know.
Travis:cool:

[us1]

If its not rotted I would like to buy it from you for sure. Thanks

[outboards4life]

Its down at my shop. I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow. and send them your way.

[Mark75H]

It will depend on which ignition system is on each engine if the harnesses will switch.

Most years of the 4 cylinder 65's use magnetos. The first year of the 80 was 1969, I'm pretty sure it uses Thunderbolt igntion.

If you have all the parts off of an 80, converting the 65 to use the Thunderbolt instead of magneto would be an improvement, but you'd have to have the boat harness & switch, too.

[us1]

This one is not magneto its a distributor/coil ignition.

[outboards4life]

this is also a distibutor/coil ignition. It might be an 85 horse now that I think about it. I think its a 73. I'll get serial numbers and all other info.

[Mark75H]

The year of the 80/85 won't matter as long as they both have the Thunderbolt ignition distributor with 4 plug wires and a coil wire/ single coil/electronic trigger box stuff.

If both have the single coil and trigger box with 3 wires on one side and 4 on the other you guys are golden.

[us1]

Yes, thats what it is. Sam, did you get my last email about paying for the plate?

[outboards4life]

I unburied it this morning. its got 2 wires with bad insulation. The rest look perfect. go figure. Sorry John.
Anyway now that I think about it. I replaced a wiring harness on an inline 6 and I got the harness from Sierra. They give you way too much wire but it was a nice piece.
Travis:cool:

[us1]

Thanks for looking Travis, I really appreciate it. I'll look at Sierra too.

[LakeRacer99]

Hey John,
we need to see some pics of the Silverwing with the twins and #4s when you get it rigged. I really like that boat.
Later,

[us1]

I can do the pictures. Its the NUMBERS I want to see.:D

[Georgia Boy]

I get alot of my parts for my '72 inline from NAPA. Yes I know they are an auto parts place, but you would really be suprised at how much stuff they carry for the marine industry. John I bought an external wiring harness from them a few years ago, but not sure if they have the one you need, might be worth a shot though. ~GB

[us1]

Thanks, I need all the iedas I can get.

[Lee Craft Mercury]

The old wiring on my 1963 650 is turning to crumbles. Inside the engine cowl and outside as well. I'ts definitely due to the composition of the original insulation. The main harness wire will literally fall apart when it is moved. Best way to fix this will be to re-wire from the plug by soldering on new wires. Same problem on the enclosed 7 conductor wire from the control console to the engine/battery. Exposure to the "elements" has caused the same severe deterioration even inside the outer covering which turns to crumbles when disturbed.
More of the joys of restoring old junk!

My old cars wring is in much better condition that the old boat!

[us1]

Rapair used to sell all that old stuff.

[Capt.Insane-o]

www.oldmercs.com (http://www.oldmercs.com)

[Mark75H]

www.oldmercs.com (http://www.oldmercs.com)

They buy from CDI/Rapair, you might as well too ... costs as much as most people would pay for a motor

[mr fun]

you guys are wearing me out on page 1-2 with the 15-20". my buddy in high school w/69 z28 302 at 9-1 at 7-9 gran hole shots made them for sale. get the wire, put the ends on and get busy.

[mr fun]

I need a midsection swivel bracket and lower for a inline 150. would love to find a 15" but I think Raceman owns all of the them left on the planet and he sells nothing :nonod: